The Impact of International Conflicts on the Cryptocurrency Market: The Case of Israel–Palestine Conflict

Abstract

In the financial markets, international conflicts have a crucial influence. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is one of them which poses hazards to international politics and the economy. This study is the first study that examines the potential influence of the Israel-Palestine conflict on the cryptocurrency market. To this end, the event study methodology is used for the period 01.03.2023 – 17.10.2023, and the top ten cryptocurrencies are chosen for analysis based on their market capitalization. The results show that although the Israel-Palestine conflict affected certain cryptocurrencies (including BTC, TRX, SOL, and ETH), it had no statistically significant effect on the market as a whole. Furthermore, the majority of the effect was statistically positive, which may be an indication that the cryptocurrency market is considered a safe haven. Moreover, the abnormal returns were usually recorded in the days before the event, suggesting that the event had been anticipated by some cryptocurrencies. Investors and financial analysts may benefit from these results by considering the cryptocurrency market as an alternative investment tool in these uncertain times and using these findings to diversify their portfolios and create hedging strategies.